The Guffey Team

Use Bullets for Surefire Reader Comprehension

[Instructors: Use the PDF version of the assignment and key found at the end of the post.]

Good writers pay attention to how their prose appears on a page or screen in addition to how it “sounds” as it is read. Large, dense blocks of text can discourage readers. Breaking up text using bulleted points makes prose more scannable, and therefore, less intimidating to readers.

When you write a paragraph that could be broken up by using bulleted points, follow these rules:

Use bulleted points only to highlight items that do not require chronology; numbered lists are used to show sequence.

Begin a bulleted list with a sentence (called a stem or lead-in statement) that explains the list’s overall theme. Alternatively, list bulleted points under a separate heading that forecasts the section’s topic.

The media have given us some of their own occupational slang, like “sound bite,” but trendy clichés usually come from occupations and professions. So business has given us bottom lines, deep pockets, and downsizing. The military has given us bite the bullet, in the trenches, breakthrough, and flak. Engineering gave us parameters, state of the art, leading edge, and reinventing the wheel. Athletics gave us team players, ballpark figures, level playing fields, and track records. Politics is the home of charisma, spin doctors, bandwagons, and momentum. The self-help movement gave us trendy clichés like self-actualizing, holistic, meaningful, one day at a time, and wellness.[1]

Unadvertised or “hidden” jobs may make up as much as 80-85% of unfilled openings, according to Fred Coon, a licensed employment agent. To uncover hidden jobs, Coon suggests those entering the workforce to join industry groups. Associations, chambers of commerce, or Toastmasters are great ways to make contacts before you need them. Coon also suggests talking to insiders. Insights from those already in the industry can help new workers learn how to best chart their career paths. Another way to find hidden jobs is to search company websites. Many companies only post openings on their corporate websites.

Suggested revisions.

The media have given us some of their own occupational slang, like “sound bite,” but trendy clichés usually come from occupations and professions:

Business: bottom lines, deep pockets, downsizing

Military: bite the bullet, in the trenches, breakthrough, flak

Engineering: parameters, state of the art, leading edge, reinventing the wheel